November, 2018: Pedal Carol Pedal

Listed below are my first and last log entries of my November, 2018, rides. This same post, with the entire log and a few more pictures, can be viewed at my cycling blog.

~*~

Daylight savings time ended November 4. So, try as I might, I haven't been able to always finish my rides before sunset. And I'm glad.

The night rides have been magical, especially the two on the New River Trail. There's a feeling of wildness, of freedom, to be in the woods at night with no people around. Just the trees and the trail and the wind. The sky and the stars and the moon. The river and deer and rocky cliffs. And knowing that other critters are watching a two-legged on two wheels roll through the darkness.

Even though I received my (23rd) epidural on October 29, I've had a rougher-than-normal-rough November; first and foremost physically, which contributed to the mental and emotional hardships.

The difficulty-increase was due to a few factors. Two of those are:
1) my 10/29 epidural didn't work as well as I was hoping/anticipating.
2) the weather has moved into her cold season, along with less sunlight and (this year) more precipitation.

In spite of the added difficulty, I have continued to cycle. The extra effort it takes to prepare (such as added layers of clothing) makes it more challenging. What motivates me is the joy of the ride, knowing the freedom and relief and high that arrive at some point during the ride; at least most of the time. To be able to move my body at a good pace and without having to contemplate simple movements, such as putting on socks, is freedom to my soul.

Hubby John set up my indoor trainer. It's my best indoor cycling experience yet! A couple years ago, I rode John's bike set up on a different trainer. I didn't like it, but endured. Last year I joined the YWCA. That worked okay, but it took a lot of effort to get there and then clean up afterward. So, this year, I have a new trainer that was gifted me by my neighbor. And, since I now have a 2nd bike, Bleu, my beloved bike, Olivia, is on the trainer. And I've learned how to play YouTube videos on the TV. Me likes! I'm hooked on Ryan Duzer's videos.

The links in my log below connect to corresponding tweets about the ride.
"Putw" means the link is to my public Twitter account.
"Prtw," to my private account.

~*~

Total November miles = 176.

First Entry:
• November 4 (putw) & (prtw): 24.2 mi. Solo w/Bleu. New River Trail in Virginia. Foster Falls->Allisonia->Foster Falls. 1st section of my 6th thru-bike on the NRT. Didn't want the day to end. Daylight savings ended today, so I rode in the dark the last 2-3 miles. 6 deer, 4 different spots. 1 ran in front of me, like an escort, for maybe .2 mile. She'd stop & look back at me. Her white tail was like a pendulum. It shone in the dusk of evening. 2 crossed in front of me. Flock of robins - I guess 40 to 50. Geese in the river - heard but didn't see. White bird in the woods. A cat, on the trail, in the dusk, hunkered & watchful as I pedaled by. Met 2 couples. 1 from Columbus, OH. The other from Charlottesville/Blacksburg, VA - the guy had a 1990s Trek!! It was purple. On the drive up, in Tobaccoville, I called 911 twice. A man in a van following a teenage girl who was walking. Stopping and talking to her through his van window. She was silent, determined, walking. Probably Daughter-Dad thing going on, but who knows?

• (Click here to view the middle entries).

Last Entry:
• November 29 (prtw): 17.7 mi. Solo w/Bleu. Muddy Creek Greenway. Winston-Salem, NC. Was gonna ride inside, but then the temperature reached 50F. Hit the greenway 3:30ish & rode into sunset as the temp dropped. So glad I weathered it. Saw Josh & Aaron throwing football at Jamieson Park. That was fun. Rode the hill 2x. Got a text from Drake Passage this morning. From friends on the National Geographic ship, Explorer, on their way to Antarctica. That is way cool...!!

~Indoor trainer with Olivia~

~Moon over Hiwassee Bridge. Bleu leans~

~New River Trail. 11/19/18~

~Bleu. Birds. Moon~
~Mt. Airy Greenway. 11/21/18~

~Greenway courtesy. Bleu leans~

~Mt. Airy, NC. 11-25-18~